The basics are this: Alderweireld, who has had no suitors willing to pay his £25m release clause, would be sold to Roma as a makeweight for €23m (~£20m). Spurs would then include an additional €27m for Zaniolo, who would move to north London on a permanent transfer. The idea is that Alderweireld would get his move away from the club and a modest increase in after-tax wages in Rome, Spurs would get a young talent who could compete with Dele Alli, and everyone’s happy (except for Spurs fans who were still hoping Toby would sign a new deal).

Dorito Dink

Spurs twitter saying Danny Rose did not go to Asia with squad and is contemplating moving on. He has no issues with team, but apparently is thinking about playing closer to where he grew up in Yorkshire before his career winds down. Sheffield United is only EPL team around there now, but there's a number in the Championship. He's amenable to returning to Spurs as well, but is taking some time. The thought is that if Spurs let him move on then they likely have someone like Sessegnon coming in.

Well-Known Member

I was a Rose hater at first, but man that guy turned it ON down the stretch last year. I don't remember him losing a 50-50 ball after February. He also seems like a real thoughtful dude, something that pro sports don't have enough of (at least ones willing to speak their mind as well).

Assuming Rose doesn't leave, I don't think Spurs are too worried about their FB depth. Rose and Davies at LB and Aurier and KWP at RB is certainly good enough going into the season. If Rose does indeed leave, have to think they will renew the push for Sessegnon.

This was my point about the Fekir signing all along--Betis signed him because they expected to close the deal on GLC, but you cannot put the cart before the horse with Levy on the other side. Unless of course, Betis would consider keeping both. They don't have to convince me though, they have to convince Levy and even then, Levy's only real reason to bet against himself is because he wants the player that bad or Poch is breathing down his neck. But with Ndombele already in the fold and Eriksen not moving (yet), there is less of a rush.

On that last note, does Asensio's injury make the Eriksen transfer more likely? Asensio is more of a winger in the 4-3-3 than a MF, but having more quality players around generally has to have some importance.

wants to be caribou ken

I just woke up from a strong Dybala fever dream.... but I think the news of the day is locking up AIA as the shirt sponsor for 40M+ pounds per year through 2027. I think it is very much worth having a little red on the jersey if that is what it takes to be competitive income wise with the other big London teams and Liverpool. I was laughed at in this forum a few years ago for proposing that Spurs could get to economic parity with the other team in North London, but with the stadium, the shirt deal, the NFL deal, Champions league football several years in a row and the looming stadium naming rights deal, they are very nearly there.

Tottenham Hotspur is delighted to announce an agreement with AIA Group Limited (AIA), one of the world’s leading life insurers, to extend their long-standing Official Partnership until the end of the 2026/27 season.

This renewed agreement will see the strategic partnership span well over a decade between the Club and AIA, who originally came on board as Official Cup Shirt Partner in 2013. In the 2014/15 season AIA became Official Shirt Partner in all competitions with the relationship extended in 2017 during Tottenham Hotspur’s post season tour to AIA’s home market, Hong Kong, as it became the Club’s Global Principal Partner.

The deal is reportedly between £320 million and £360 million overall, meaning anywhere from £40 million to £45 million a year for the club. The number lands Spurs within the range of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool, per The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick.

Presently, the deal includes the shirt sponsorship as AIA maintains its title as the club’s Global Principal Partner. During the event, though, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy noted that AIA could eventually have the stadium naming rights, though nothing is certain at the moment.

Member

I know it is preseason, but there is never a bad time to win three straight against Real, Juventus and Bayern.

In other news Spurs are still in talks with Betis about Lo Celso, but curiously enough they have reportedly sent a delegation to Lisbon to go talk about Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes. It seems like there are three explanations for this:

1. Spurs are using Fernandes negotiations to try and earn leverage with Betis for Lo Celoso.

2. Spurs are moving on from Lo Celso and have moved on to Fernandes.

3. Spurs are going to sell Eriksen and feel like they need another AM to replace him, in edition to Lo Celso.

Member

I know it is preseason, but there is never a bad time to win three straight against Real, Juventus and Bayern.

In other news Spurs are still in talks with Betis about Lo Celso, but curiously enough they have reportedly sent a delegation to Lisbon to go talk about Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes. It seems like there are three explanations for this:

1. Spurs are using Fernandes negotiations to try and earn leverage with Betis for Lo Celoso.

2. Spurs are moving on from Lo Celso and have moved on to Fernandes.

3. Spurs are going to sell Eriksen and feel like they need another AM to replace him, in edition to Lo Celso.

Although I'm not positive that Fernandes isn't a better fit. I think NDombele and Winks will be enough to get box-to-box and the more offensive minded Fernandes would be of more use. That said, I think LoCelso is still top target.

Dorito Dink

So, the Lo Celso deal is a season-long loan (15M) with an obligation to buy. Which means less money upfront, but it ALL goes to Real Betis, none to PSG (who had sell on clause). Next year, Spurs complete the deal with 40M to Betis. So PSG only gets 20% of the 40M, not 20% of the 55M.

This leaves Spurs and Levy with more cash on hand now, which they are apparently trying to turn into Dybala.

Member

I’m really not high on Dybala at the price/wages I’m assuming he’ll cost. And even if I was, not sure how he makes sense unless Eriksen is leaving. I don’t think he’s good enough to crack the starting 11 when this team is healthy. He also plays a position Spurs haven’t really used in the past two years (essentially a support striker), and last time they did, Alli was fantastic in that role.

Dorito Dink

Member

At a reported £25m plus up to £5m in add one, that’s very good business. Levy has leverage with Sessegnon prioritizing Spurs as his destination, and no one drives a bargain like Levy. Will be interesting to see how Poch plays the kid. He has the talent to play the entire wing, but needs to develop the discipline and savvy required for that much freedom.

Member

Phew, losing Trippier AND Rose wouldn't have been great. They still have 3 left backs though. I wonder if they're going to use more of a back 3 involving Davies this season. Would make it easier to play Sessegnon immediately

Lo Celso, on the other hand, has proven that he can both be a true midfielder and something more attacking. In 2017-2018, Lo Celso led Ligue 1 in possession adjusted tackles per 90, and put up a stat line that was stunningly similar to Ndombele’s

This season, Spurs will have much more solidity in midfield, and with it, will likely return to their suffocating pressing of years past. We should expect much more defensive activity high up the pitch, and that Pochettino will run out more midfield twos this season than last year, allowing Dele, Son, Kane, and Lucas/Eriksen/Lo Celso all on the pitch together with Ndombele and one of Dier or Winks paired with him. Perhaps we may see that Lo Celso/Ndombele pivot behind Dele, Lamela, Son, and Kane (assuming Eriksen leaves).

While at their peak Spurs could put it together – as evidenced by their Champions League run – the team simply could not compete week in and week out in the Premier League. This season, things should be different, if a little thin at fullback.

Tottenham fans should marvel at how the team is set up for the next five years to come. Spurs’ age profile is once again where Daniel Levy wants it, with 23 and under talent across the pitch, including bought and loaned back prospect Jack Clarke at Leeds. Perhaps as Liverpool and Manchester City’ peak age players need to be refreshed in the next few years, Spurs will be poised to step into that potential void. No longer symbolic of Purgatory, Spurs appear poised to ascend to the football heavens in the next half decade.

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